Empty Chairs in the Town Park Land Rush Line

[ScampMan]

I have been to TBF 3 times, always staying in Town Park and always there for the Land Rush to get the stie I prefer.  Each time I have slept in my chair all night with empty chairs in front of me. This year there were 9 empty chairs in  front of me until about 6AM.  By 8:00 AM there were at least 25-30 people in front of me including "historical site people" who just walk up in front of everyone else.  This has happened all three times I have attended. I do not think this is right. Thoughts from anyone else and suggestions? My suggestion is one chair one person who stays in line all night. Seems fair to me.

[Pirate Looks at --]

Are you referring to the "land Rush" the Saturday before fest.....or the tarp run each day of fest?

[Hooch]

I'm pretty sure he is talking about the Saturday morning land rush into the Preserve area.  Yes, it's definitely true that more people pop up last minute to "help" with the land rush for the historic camps (including ours) than the number of chairs holding the line.  I can definitely see how this could be perceived as not right/fair. 

As much as I (who had a chair in line) appreciated the help throwing tarps for our camp area plus spots for tents, it is certainly disheartening for people who were 9th in line to suddenly be 30th in line.  We should probably address this in the next year and come up with a plan.  ScampMan, I hope you were still able to score your favorite spot.

[nfire]

imo if "historical site people" want their preferred spot, they can get there earlier.

[landshark]

imo if "historical site people" want their preferred spot, they can get there earlier.

You know what I noticed this year, it just does not matter we all filter to the same spots with all the same faces around us give er take a tarp or two. Let fate guide you. I say we blind fold the lot of you and set you all loose at the same time good fun!

[nfire]

imo if "historical site people" want their preferred spot, they can get there earlier.

Let fate guide you.

if fate guides someone to cut me in line, fate will guide me to tell them to get at the back and wait like everyone else

[Pirate Looks at --]

Wow bad day today? It seems there is room for all

[nfire]

Wow bad day today? It seems there is room for all

not a bad day for me.  i find it aggravating that people who have been at the fest longer feel that they are more important than everyone else and don't have to wait in line.  this should not be the policy, i doubt that it is, and it is obviously noticeable to some people who have followed the rules.  hence why someone made the thread.

[TellurideTom]

I'm guilty, I admit it.
But, as slow as I move nowadays someone that was 20th in line probably could have overtaken me on my way to the "historic site" I've always taken.

I'd have to say that 90% of those in the land rush "know where they are going" and most of the others respect where the "historic" camps are and don't lunge for them.
I have yet to see any major altercations about who got where first to claim their territory.

A lot of the historic camps also set up "communal areas" for people to gather during events they may host so of course they want the same spot so others can easily find them.

In my mind it's also "fair" to allow the handicapped front row advantage just because they are so much slower than the able bodied young sprinters.

There are two separate entries for the preserve land rush so I can only comment on the one I've always been at, but I expect it's pretty much the same at both.

Bottom line, there's room in our hearts for everyone wherever they want to land.

[FaceOnMars]

Wow bad day today? It seems there is room for all

If there is room for all, then "historical" sites will find their way too.   I'm becoming more a proponent of shuffling the deck wherever possible.  Festivarian spirit is great, but there's a reason it's called a land rush & tarp run; people are competing at all different levels and those who are entrenched in the system can game it to an extent.

Let me just say this, if it were a powder day ... and skis were "brought in line" at 7am and just sat there without the owner present, they'd be chucked aside by 8:30.  And if the owners did show up, there'd be given the business or worse.

[Linds]

Wow bad day today? It seems there is room for all

...

Let me just say this, if it were a powder day ... and skis were "brought in line" at 7am and just sat there without the owner present, they'd be chucked aside by 8:30.  And if the owners did show up, there'd be given the business or worse.

But I thought there was no such thing as "friends" on a powder day!  Certainly no festivarian spirit. 

I wasn't there for land rush, so I really can't comment on that.  As a Festi-virgin, I took one for the team and spent two full nights in line for the tarp run.  I was certainly thankful that nobody gave me grief for leaving my chair/cot to shower, grab water, watch Bruce Hornsby from the softball stands, etc. 

[FaceOnMars]

Wow bad day today? It seems there is room for all

...

Let me just say this, if it were a powder day ... and skis were "brought in line" at 7am and just sat there without the owner present, they'd be chucked aside by 8:30.  And if the owners did show up, there'd be given the business or worse.

But I thought there was no such thing as "friends" on a powder day!  Certainly no festivarian spirit. 

I wasn't there for land rush, so I really can't comment on that.  As a Festi-virgin, I took one for the team and spent two full nights in line for the tarp run.  I was certainly thankful that nobody gave me grief for leaving my chair/cot to shower, grab water, watch Bruce Hornsby from the softball stands, etc. 

While the old saying about there not being any friends on a powder day is true to an extent, I believe it's also something which lets you know where you stand a bit more clearly vs. the often opaque nature of the "festivarian spirit" ... which is great when it works out, but I think there's too much of a reliance upon what is sometimes elusive in reality as it pertains to personal space.

Not saying it doesn't exist or something to try to promote, but rather that it's more of an ideal which doesn't necessarily always pan out in reality in terms of "patching the holes" in policy regarding personal space (on many fronts).

So while the no friends on a powder day might seem harsh ... you KNOW where you stand at ALL times vs. having to open your mouth and chat it up in order to massage reality to suit one's goals.   

Anyhow, not sure what the "rule" is on going back and forth for the tarp run line, but I do know it's fair game to go to the bathroom, get coffee, etc. in a powder line .... you just need to at least have some sort of substantial presence from start to finish vs. having someone drop your gear down & you show up for the first time just shy of 9am.   

I guess I'm just not a fan of giving up the moment to "secure" territory for the future & don't believe this is necessarily a manifestation of "festivarian spirit" but rather the insertion of competition into what I believe ought not be a competitive event.   I'd be all for randomizing via serial number on one's wristband or some other method which allowed the general festival population to have an equal opportunity to line up at a reasonable hour without turning the scene into competition.   I know I'll catch %^%$ from people who have their "system" down and prefer the status quo, but I do believe the situation has devolved into something which is too easily accepted as being OK.

Regardless, hopefully your first bluegrass was a fun one !!!

[FestiTrey]

I have been to TBF 3 times, always staying in Town Park and always there for the Land Rush to get the stie I prefer.  Each time I have slept in my chair all night with empty chairs in front of me. This year there were 9 empty chairs in  front of me until about 6AM.  By 8:00 AM there were at least 25-30 people in front of me including "historical site people" who just walk up in front of everyone else.  This has happened all three times I have attended. I do not think this is right. Thoughts from anyone else and suggestions? My suggestion is one chair one person who stays in line all night. Seems fair to me.

I've done the Saturday land rush for my crew the past three years as well.  I'm guessing you didn't sleep in line 3 years ago because it POURED all night.  In fact, we rolled into town around 1am on that Saturday, checked our line (the one closest to the softball fields) and there wasn't a soul in line and only a small handful of chairs.  We got in line around 6am that morning and there were only 2 people in front of us.  Last year, we set up our tents right behind our chairs and slept in line.  We brought a keg and music out, and while several people came by that night, I was only aware of one other person sleeping in line and I know him now.  This year, we put our chairs in line around 7 or 8 Friday night, and we were like 5th in line maybe and there wasn't anybody there...so we ended up sleeping on a tarp in the softball fields after going to the bar.  But we were in line by like 6:30 right after the ground crew woke us up saying they were about to turn on the sprinklers.   

Regardless, I 100% agree with you that it doesn't really matter where your chair is because the "traditional camps" stroll in around 7:45 and walk right in front of you with a wagon completely full of tarps.  However, I also agree that 99% of that line is going to "their" spot so it isn't all that important.  However, the thing that rubs me is that "entitled" feeling.  Those established camps could be 1st or 30th in line and most would respect their space, but when they walk right in front of you with a wagon full of tarps without so much as asking or even acknowledging you, it is frustrating.  I just take a deep breath, realize they are going to a different spot, and let it go...but I also realize I could never do that to a line of people. 

[landshark]

While the old saying about there not being any friends on a powder day is true to an extent, I believe it's also something which lets you know where you stand a bit more clearly vs. the often opaque nature of the "festivarian spirit" ... which is great when it works out, but I think there's too much of a reliance upon what is sometimes elusive in reality as it pertains to personal space.

Not saying it doesn't exist or something to try to promote, but rather that it's more of an ideal which doesn't necessarily always pan out in reality in terms of "patching the holes" in policy regarding personal space (on many fronts).

The spirit of sharing is alive and needs to be taught to some.
 We throw a big tarp, up front usually and always know that the extra space we tarp is for our unknown friends that appear throughout the Fest. We talk, laugh and engage, dance, drink, it's all good.

A young girl sat on my tarp and turned her back to me. I tapped her on the shoulder and said "I think the friendly Festivarian thing to do if your gonna sit on my tarp is to at the very least introduce yourself. And she did.

We must communicate with each other and self police.
 You would be hugely suprised at the results that would follow.

Call someone out, eye to eye. Peaceful and respectful, but one on one.
Communication is key IMO.


 That is the answer. Face to face, eye to eye. People are good and good natured  .